KATHMANDU, Nov 17: CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli on Friday leveled fierce criticism at Dr Govinda KC, who has been crusading for reforms in medical education and the health sector, and at Kamal Thapa, chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party .
Oli voiced strong objection to the provision in the Medical Education Ordinance, recently issued by the government, barring the establishment of any new medical college in Kathmandu for the next 10 years.
“A government employee [Dr KC] stages a fast-unto-death. The government holds talks with him and issues an ordinance as per its convenience, barring anyone from establishing a medical college for 10 years,” Oli told editors and publishers of various media organizations at Hotel Annapurna.
Oli said it is not a government which has only 15 days’ tenure left that can take decisions that will have an impact for years. “Decisions taken arbitrarily by the government now will be revoked by tomorrow’s [next] government,” he said.
Oli also criticized Dr KC for seeking information about the delay by President Bidyadevi Bhandari in certifying the Medical Education Ordinance. “Government employees should work as per their assigned role. If there is interest in politics [he/she] should enter that field,” he said.
Oli claimed that with a large number of Nepali students going abroad to study medicine a huge amount of money is leaving the country. He said investors and the government could decide about the number of medical colleges to be established in the country.
Oli also objected to the government decision to scrap the previous government’s award of the contract for the 1,200 MW Budhigandaki hydropower project to the Chinese company Gejuwa. “An election government can’t provide a license to anyone, nor can it revoke such a license,” he said. “As the UML and Maoist Center have forged an alliance, they will have a majority and form the government. Our friends might have already guessed this,” he said.
He accused the government of not consulting the major opposition parties while taking important decisions. “Tomorrow [in future] the UML will take decisions as per its need and revoke what needs to be revoked,” he said. “UML is no amateur player.”
He came down heavily on RPP Chairman Kamal Thapa for his statement that “those whose interests have suffered a setback have objected” to the decision on Budhigandaki.
“Kamal Thapa should be ashamed of saying that KP Oli’s interests suffered a setback,” he said.
“Think twice before speaking. He should remember the person whose statement he is denouncing.”
Oli criticized Communist Party of Nepal chief Netra Bikram Chand for carrying out the ongoing violent attacks on poll candidates. He said “such terrorist activities should stop immediately.”